Therapeutic bathing cabinet

ABSTRACT

A rectangular open top cabinet having a rectangular door hinged on one side thereof. The aforesaid door is provided with a spring-loaded seat on the inside thereof for a person using the cabinet. The cabinet is provided with a vertically disposed water supply pipe having a plurality of outlets in one end of the cabinet for providing recirculating water. The just-mentioned pipe is connected to a valve to which is also connected a watercirculating pipe having its outlet in the lower end of the aforesaid cabinet. Flow of water from the water filling pipe is controlled by a sensing device that is connected to an electrically operated water pump that is also connected to the aforesaid valve of this invention. A manually operated control faucet, for controlling the temperature of the water entering the aforesaid cabinet and the pressure under which the water flows, is located so that it can be operated by either the person in the cabinet or by an attendant outside the cabinet. A drain outlet in the bottom of the cabinet and a molded seat secured to one wall of the cabinet completes the construction of this invention.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Joyce M. Lancaster P. O. Box 442, Wagoner,- Okla. 74467 [211 App]. No. 18,034 [22] Filed Mar. 10, 1970 [4S] Patented Dec. 28, 1971 [54] THERAPEUTIC BATHING CABINET 6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

52 us. Cl 128/66,

4/146 [51] Int.Cl A6ll'l 9/00 [50] Field of Search 128/66,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,888,683 6/1959 Medlock 1. 4/147 3,447,166 6/1969 Gordon 4/146 X FOREIGN PATENTS 779,941 1/1935 France 128/369 Primary ExaminerL. W. Trapp ABSTRACT: A rectangular open top cabinet having a rectangular door hinged on one side thereof. The aforesaid door is provided with a spring-loaded seat on'the inside thereof for a person using the cabinet. The cabinet is provided with a vertically disposed water supply pipe having a plurality ofoutlets in one end of the cabinet for providing recirculating water. The just-mentioned pipe is connected to a valve to which is also connected a water-circulating pipe having its outlet in the lower end of the aforesaid cabinet. Flow of water from the water filling pipe is controlled by a sensing device that is connected to an electrically operated water pump that is also connected to the aforesaid valve of this invention. A manually operated control faucet, for controlling the temperature of the water entering the aforesaid cabinet and the pressure under which the water flows, is located so that it can be operated by either the person in the cabinet or by an attendant outside the cabinet. A drain outlet in the bottom of the cabinet and a molded seat secured to one wall of the cabinet completes the construction of this invention.

PATENTEDUECZBISYI $530,193

i 24 g 2 Z/ 23 INVENTOR JOYCE M LANCASTER THERAPEUTIC BATHING CABINET This invention relates to bathing cabinets; particularly, to a therapeutic bathing cabinet especially designed and constructed for the bathing of persons having arthritis or any other disabling disease that prevents one from bathing in the normal manner. Bathing cabinets provide means of filling the cabinet to a predetermined height with water as well as means of directing one or more streams of water in a predetermined direction.

For the benefit of those less experienced in the art of the present invention, it should be understood that therapeutic is defined as of or relating to the treatment of disease or disorders by remedial agents or methods.

It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide a therapeutic bathing cabinet of the character described that will permit a person confined to a wheelchair to bathe by being transferred to a seat in an especially designed cabinet in which the wheelchair patient can operate all of the water control valves.

Another object of this invention is to provide a therapeutic bathing cabinet of the character described that is a compact device which can be installed in any room without alterations to the room other than providing the necessary water supply and drain pipes and electricity to operate the cabinet filling mechanism.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a therapeutic bathing cabinet of the character described that has a spring-loaded seat secured to the inside of the door of the cabinet, thereby providing an easy means of permitting the person using the cabinet to enter and leave the cabinet without the assistance of another person.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will more fully appear from the reading of this specification and its appended claims when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts of the invention throughout the two views of the drawing in which:

FlG. I is a side view of this invention, as indicated by the arrowed line and numberl in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of this invention with its door open.

Directing ones attention first to FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawing it will be seen that this invention of a therapeutic bathing cabinet 5 embodies a rectangular open top cabinet 6 having a rectangular door 7 in the side 8 of the cabinet. The peripheral flange 9 of the just-mentioned door 7 prevents water in the aforesaid cabinet 6 from leaking out of the cabinet when the door is closed and the cabinet is in use since the aforesaid flange fits snugly over the outwardly extending flange 10 of the aforesaid side 8 of the cabinet 6. A peripheral sealing strip 11 inside the aforesaid door 7 further prevents a chance of water leakage when the door is closed, as will be understood by those experienced in the art of bathing cabinet construction.

Continuing to look at FIG. 2 of the drawing it will be seen that the often-mentioned door 7 is locked in a closed position by means of a plurality of spaced latches 12 that can be operated either inside or outside of the cabinet. A seat 13 is mounted on an elongated vertically disposed U-shaped support 14 located on the inside of the aforesaid door 7. The aforesaid seat 13 is held in a raised position by means of a coil spring 15 that encompasses the vertical member of the aforesaid U-shaped support 14. The often-mentioned seat 13, which is provided with a rail 16, is stabilized by means of the elongated U-shaped guide member 17 that is also located on the inside of the door 7 of this invention. A water supply pipe 18, having a plurality of spaced outlets 19, is mounted on the end of the aforesaid cabinet 6. I personally call this pipe 18 and its outlets 19 a recirculating device since the cabinet 6 is also provided with a water filling pipe 25, clearly visible in the two views of the accompanying drawing. The lower end of the aforesaid water supply pipe 18 is connected to the valve 22 which is also connected to the aforesaid water circulating pipe 21 in such a wa that the water can be admitted to the cabinet through the a oresaid supply pipe 18 and thus provide a cavitating action of the water in the cabinet. The water can also be admitted in the cabinet through the aforesaid circulating pipe 21 whose flow of water is controlled by the pressure sensing device 23. Obviously, water for this cabinet has to be pumped under pressure. This pressure is obtained by means of the electrically operated water pump 24. Water enters the pump through the inlet pipe 25 and leaves the cabinet 6 through the drain outlet 26 that is located in the bottom 27 of the cabinet. The only other major parts of this novel invention that l have not so far described are the molded seat 28, that is located in the back of the cabinet 6, and the control faucet 29 which is provided with a special color indicator of a type that can be preset for any desired temperature before turning on the faucet. This can be done by either the user of the cabinet or by an attendant. The aforesaid control faucet 29 can be operated by one hand and it controls not only the temperature of the water but also the volume of water that is to flow into the cabinet. The pipes and/or other mechanism connecting the aforesaid control faucet 29 with the water supply of this invention are not shown in either of the two views of the accompanying drawing for reasons of clarity since this part of the invention will be understood by those experienced in the art and details are admittedly not new and no claims are made for the same.

The way in which this invention is used is clearly understood by examination of the accompanying drawing. Here, in FIG. 1, a person is shown in the bathing cabinet by means of phantom lines.

What I now claim as new is:

1. A therapeutic bathing cabinet of the character described, comprising an open top cabinet having a hinged door on one side thereof; and means of supporting a person desiring to bathe in said cabinet; and means of supplying a plurality of streams of water in the said cabinet and against the body of the person bathing therein; the means of supporting a person comprising a spring-loaded seat secured to the inside of said door of said cabinet.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein the said seat is provided with a rail that projects upward around the periphery of the said seat which is rectangular when viewed from the top; and an elongated vertically disposed U-shaped support secured to the inside of the said door, the said support being adapted to stabilize the said seat.

3. The invention of claim 2, wherein the said cabinet is provided with a plurality of latches for securing the said door shut, the said latches being adapted to be activated from either the inside or outside of the said cabinet.

4. The invention of claim 3, wherein the means of supplying a plurality of streams of water is by a vertically disposed water supply pipe having a plurality of spaced outlets in one end of the said cabinet, the said pipe having its lower end connected to a valve adapted to an electrically operated water pump that receives its water supply from an inlet pipe.

5. The invention of claim 4, wherein the said invention is also provided with a horizontally disposed water filling pipe; and a sensing device mounted on one end of the said cabinet, the said sensing device being connected to the said electrically operated water pump.

6. The invention of claim 5, wherein the said cabinet is provided with both a molded seat on one side thereof opposite the said door and a manually operated control faucet for controlling both the temperature and the amount of water supplied to the said cabinet; and a drain outlet located in the bottom of the said cabinet.

1 i I i i 

1. A therapeutic bathing cabinet of the character described, comprising an open top cabinet having a hinged door on one side thereof; and means of supporting a person desiring to bathe in said cabinet; and means of supplying a plurality of streams of water in the said cabinet and against the body of the person bathing therein; the means of supporting a person comprising a spring-loaded seat secured to the inside of said door of said cabinet.
 2. The invention of claim 1, wherein the said seat is provided with a rail that projects upward around the periphery of the said seat which is rectangular when viewed from the top; and an elOngated vertically disposed U-shaped support secured to the inside of the said door, the said support being adapted to stabilize the said seat.
 3. The invention of claim 2, wherein the said cabinet is provided with a plurality of latches for securing the said door shut, the said latches being adapted to be activated from either the inside or outside of the said cabinet.
 4. The invention of claim 3, wherein the means of supplying a plurality of streams of water is by a vertically disposed water supply pipe having a plurality of spaced outlets in one end of the said cabinet, the said pipe having its lower end connected to a valve adapted to an electrically operated water pump that receives its water supply from an inlet pipe.
 5. The invention of claim 4, wherein the said invention is also provided with a horizontally disposed water filling pipe; and a sensing device mounted on one end of the said cabinet, the said sensing device being connected to the said electrically operated water pump.
 6. The invention of claim 5, wherein the said cabinet is provided with both a molded seat on one side thereof opposite the said door and a manually operated control faucet for controlling both the temperature and the amount of water supplied to the said cabinet; and a drain outlet located in the bottom of the said cabinet. 